Machine for preparing mossed frames for floral wreaths



April 12, 1927.

H. P. HANSON MACHINE FOR PREPARING MOSSED FRAMES FOR FLURAL WHEATHS Filed Nov. 20 1925 3 Sheets' sheat 1 1,624,238 P. HANSON Filed Nov. 20. 1925 s Sheets- Sheet 2 April 12, 1927;

MACHINE FOR PREPARING MQSSED FRAMES FOR FLORAL WREATHS 1927. Apnl H. P. HANSON MACHINE FOR PREPARING MOSSED FRAMES FOR FLORAL WREATHS Filed Nov. 20, 1925 3 Shggts-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 12, 1927.

.ea'rsar QFFICE.

HANS PETER HANSON, OF. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE EOR PREPARING lriQSSED FRAMES FOR FLORAL W REAT HS.

Application filed November 20, 1925. Serial No. 70,236.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a machine adapted to automatically apply and appropriately bind a body of moss or the like to a rigid and ordinarily circular frame or base, preferably made of wire, to form the center element of a floral wreath, said element being suiiiciently rigid to preserve a predetermined form and, at the same time, perforable to permit the attachment of flowers, either natural or artificial, by the usual o -shaped wire pins, or other fastening devices.

Hcretofore, this operation has been performed by hand and is laborious and tedious to such extent that the rate of production is very slow and consequently costly. an establishment of considerable size, the services of several operatives are required for this operation alone and the time and space necessary to maintain a suiiiciently high rate of production to meet the requirements of such an establishment are out of proportion to the cost which the articles should be produced. I have devised a machine for doing this work which is auto- .atic in operation and adapted to a rate of production which would require the services of a l; e number of operatives if the work were done by hand, as it heretofore has aiways been. so far as i am aware.

in important object of the invention is the provision, in combination, of means for termini a moss body of desired consistency and of means for securing said body, as it is termed. to a rigid base arranged and movable in desired relation to the moss body forming mechanism.

fiirther object of the invention is the provision of a moss compacting mechanism and moss feeding means coordinated and synchronized therewith in such manner as to provide the moss in appropriate quantity and timed relationship for the most etiicieutoperation of said compacting mocha nisni.

iiiunerous other objects and advantages of re invent on will be apparent as it is better rstooc iron the following description,

taken connection with the accoming drawings discloses a preferred emnent th roof.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine in which my invention is embodied;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the frame of the machine, showing certain of the operating elements in side elevation and certain thereof in perspective;

Figure 3 an enlarged sectional View of the rammer and feed chute forming a part of the moss-compacting mechanism;

Figure at is an enlarged sectional and elevational view, showing a part of said compactingmechanism and the device for bindin the moss to the wire support upon which it is placed; and

Figure am an enlarged sectional and plan view, taken horizontally. through said binding device and showing certain of the guides for facilitating and controlling the movement of the article during the formative operations thereon.

On said drawings, 1 have shown, for illustrative purposesonly, a frame comprising, a table 11, supported by legs 12 and in turn. supporting. the several operating elements of the machine. A wreath frame 13 is adapted to be positioned upon the table 11 adjacent a hopper 14, which latter is provided with a forward wall 15, having an opening therein indicated at .16 in Figure 3, said wall being of substantially tubular shape about said opening, as shown at 17. A. tubular member 18 embraces and extends forwardly from the tubular wall part 17 and his a flange 18 secured to the table'in manner to be hereinafter described. The wreath frame 13, when positioned for opera tion of themachine, has a portion thereof beneath the outer end of said tubular member 18 through which the moss is delivered and by which it is shaped through the action of a compacting member, or ram 19, the operation of which will be presently described. A knurled roller 21 is mounted idly in the table 11 adjacentthe point of delivery of the moss and facilitates the ro-' tation of said frame .13 as said moss is applied. Rollers 22 and 23 are mounted on vertical axes .24 and 25 in manually operable levers 26 and 27, pivotedto the table at 26' and 27', and areadaptedto guide the frame during the rotation thereof, said rollers being concave, as shown in Figure 2, and adapted to conform to the shape of the mossed frame. The levers 26 and 27 are adapted to be swung in and out at will to cause the rollers 22- and 23 to engage and release the frames as they are successively positioned for mossing. Suitable friction means are, or may be, provided to hold said rollers in desired position, there being shown, in the present instance, a plurality of depressions 28 in the top of the table adapted to receive studs 29 on the bottoms of the levers 26 and 27 to hold the latter in desired position of adjustment.

A rotatable disl; 31 is mounted on an. axis 32 in a bar adjustably mounted on the table 11 adjacent the roller 22 and beneath said disk is a roller 34, which is serrated, as indicated at 35, and adapted to engage the outer wire of the frame 13 (the latter being ordinarily made of wire), the serrations being adapted to accommodate irregularities in the periphery of the frame which are likely to occur particularly at the junction of the circular wires with cross pieces 36 to bind them together. Said bar 88 has a slot 37 therein and is adapted to be clamped in place by means of a wing nut 88, this construction permitting adjustment for wreath frames of different size. The frames are adapted to be rotated in the present instance by the feeding of the moss onto the same and by the hand of the operator, though it will be apparent that they could be automatically rotated, if desired.

The ram, or plunger, 19 is mounted on a horizontal shaft 39, mounted for reciprocation in bearings ell on the table 11. A split collar l2 on said shaft is provided with a downward extension 43, to which a link a l isadapted to be secured, said linl: being pivotally connected at its lower end, as in dicated at to, with an arm L6, pivoted eccentrically, as indicated at 47, to a disk 48 carried upon a cross shaft 4-9 having bearings :31 secured to the under side of the table, as indicated at 52, said shaft being adapted to be driven by means of a belt 53, taking over a pulley 5a with which is associated a clutch adapted to be manually operated by means of a hand lever 56, pivoted at 57 to a support 58 extended from a cross-iron 59 forming a part of the frame work. The shaft is extended beyond the pulley 5% and has a bearing 61 in the frame. A pulley 61 is mounted upon said shaft 49 and is connected by a belt 62 with a pulley 62 on a cross shaft 63 journaled in bearings 6% and G5 and carrying at its opposite end a pulley 66 adapted to drive a belt conveyer 67, which is adapted to deliver moss 68 from any suitable source tothe hopper 14-. The moss may be placed upon said conveyer by hand, or in any preferred manner, and the conveyer is of such size and so coordinated and synchronized with respect to the plunger 19 that the moss is delivered to said hopper in proper timed relationship to the operation of the plunger 19, so that the latter will substantially clear said hopper at each stroke, the feeding action being such that desired consistency in themoss oody 69 is maintained as the latter is formed upon the wire frame 13. The rear wall 71 of said hopper is provided 'with an opening 72, through which the shaft 39 extends, and the operation of said plunger, as well as the conveyer 67, from the shaft 49 will be readily understood from the foregoing description.

Said plunger 19 is formed with an inclined or arcuate forward face 73, which is formed with serrations, or teeth, 74 on the upper part thereof, the formation being such as to inter-weave the moss and arrange the successive charges in overlapping relationship so that said charges may be bound together by means of the thread, or cord, which is wrapped around the messed frame, as will hereinafter appear.

The flange 18 is formed with a horizontal attaching portion, which is bolted to the table, as indicated at 77. After the moss has been compacted in said tubular member 18 and forced through the same, it is discharged onto the frame 13 in a continuous body 69 of tubular form.

Mechanism provided to bind said moss body to said frame 13 as the same is posi-r tioned thereon, and this mechanism will now be described 111 detail, though it is not, in itself, of novel construction, the invention, so

far as this part of the apparatus is concerned, residing in the combination thereof with the other elements of the machine. An annular thread carrier 7 9 is mounted for rotation be tween three rollers 81, 82 and 83, the first two being mounted in bearings upon diagonal bearing members 8% supported beneath the table 11, and the third being journaled in a bracket 85 extending upwardly from the table, to which a horizontal flange 86 of said bracket is bolted, as indicated at 87. One of said rollers (as shown, the roller 81) is mounted on a shaft 88, whichcarries a pulley 89 and is adapted to be driven from any suitable source of power, as by a'separate motor, and a belt drive 91 is provided between said shaft 88 and a shaft 92 upon which the roller 82 is mounted, the upper roller 83 being idle. The annulus 7 9 is mounted in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of the annular frame 13 and passes through the latter, a segment 93 of said annulus 79 being pivoted at 9% to the tired part of the annulus and having a latch (not shown in detail) at its opposite end adapted to releasably hold it in fixed relation to the remainder of the annulus. Obvithat the annulus may rotate around the portion of the frame to Which the moss is tobe bound. Aspool is'se'cured'to one side of said annulus 79 and the thread 96is adapted to be unwound therefrom during rotation of the annulus, said thread passing around a tensioning roller 97 and thence around the messed wreath, the rotation of the threadcarrying annulus and of said messed frame being'in such timed relation as to space the strands of the thread a desired distance apart which will be such as to firmly bind the moss to the frame around the entire periphery thereof. The frame, in the embodiment shown is adapted to be held by the hand of an operator as the moss is positioned on the same and is rotated by hand and by the moss body asthe same is forced out of thBtUbUlZlI member 18. After completion of the Winding of the thread aronnd'the mossed frame, it maybe tied by hand, or in any suitable manner, and the frame,with the moss applied throughout the entire extent thereof,

may be removed by swingingthe rollers 22 and 23 out of the wayand opening the pivoted segment 93 ofthe annulus 7 9, the machinebeing stopped for this purpose by means of the clutch control lever 56 and by manipulation of a suitable control (not shown) for the drive of the roller shaft 88. Another '2 re frame may then be positioned and the operation repeated.

Itis thought that theinvention and many of its attendantadvantages"Will beunderstood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts,- ithou't departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, or .acrilicing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being'merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A machine for applying moss or the like to Wreath frames, comprising a support for the frame, means for compacting the moss and placing the same on said frame, and mechanism automatically operable ad jacent'said means for bindingsaid mess to said frame as it is placedthereon'by said means.

2. A machine for applying'moss or the like to Wreath frames, comprising a support for the'frame, means for-compacting the moss and placing the'sa'me' on said frame, mechanism automatically operable adjacent said means for binding said moss to said frame it is placed thereon bysaid means, and means for guiding the frame duringt'he operation of the machine. I

3. A machine for applyingmoss or'the like to Wreath frames, comprising a support for the frame, means for compact-ingthe moss and placing the same'on said frame, mechan sm automatically operable a'd aQent "said nieansfor .bindingsaid moss to said frame as it 1s 'placed'thereon by said means,

and adjustable means for guiding the frame during the operation of the machine.

4. A machine for applying moss or the like to Wreath frames, comprising a support for the frame, means for compacting the moss and placing'thesame on said frame,

and mechanism automatically operable adjacent said means for binding said moss to said frame as it is'p'laced' thereon by said means, said means comprising a: hopper adapted to receive the moss and having a tubular outlet member in Which the moss is adapted "to be compacted and shaped and through Which it is adaptedto be forced onto the frame, and a compacting and feeding'"plunger"operating 'in said hopper and said tubular outlet member.

A machine for applying moss or the like to wreath frames, comprising ausupport for the frame, means for compacting the moss and placing the same on saidframe, and mechanismautomatically operable adjacent said means for bindingsaid moss to "said frame as it is placed thereon by said means, said means comprising a. hopper adapted to receive the moss and' having a tubular outlet member-in which the moss is adapted to be compacted and shaped and through Which it is adapted to be forced onto the frame, a. compacting andfeeding plunger operating in said hopper and-"said tubular outlet member and-means for feeding moss into said hopper in quantity to permit the plunger to substantiallyclear the hopper upon each stroke.

6. A machine forapplying' moss or the like-to \vrea'th frames, comprising a support for the frame, a hopper for the .moss having "anoutlet opening-therein, a"plunger operating in said hopper andadapted to substantiallyclear the'same upon each stroke. said plunger being adapted to compact and 'shape the mossand place "the same on'said frame, andmeans for feed ng the HTOSStO said hopper.

'7; A machine for applyingmoss or the like to "Wreath frames, comprising a" sup port for the frame-,a' hopper for the moss having anoutlet opening therein, a plunger operating in said hopper and adapted to substantially clear the same upon each stroke, said plunger being adapted to compact and shape the'moss'and place the same on saidframe, means for feeding the moss to said' hopper, and Winding mechanism associ-atedwvith said plunger and hopper and adapted to automatically Wind a thread Or the like about'the frame and moss to bind the latter onto the frame.

8. A machinefor applying moss or the iii) like to wreath frames, comprising a support and guides for an annular frame, automatic means for compacting and forming themoss and placing the same on said frame, there being no separate means for moving said frame, and automatic means for binding the moss onto the frame as it is placed thereon by said means.

9. A machine for applying moss or the like to Wreath frames, comprising a support for the frame, a hopper adjacent said support having an outlet opening therein, a reciprocating member operating in said hopper, saidmember having an inclined serrated face adapted to arrange the moss in overlapping, compacted formation, and

means for binding the moss, thus formed,

onto said frame as it is forced through said outlet opening and onto the frame by said member.

10. A machine for applying moss or the like to Wreath frames, comprising a support for the frame, a hopper adjacent said support having an outlet open ng therein, a reciprocating member operating in said hopper, said member having an lnchned serrated face adapted to arrange the moss in overlapping, compacted formation, means for binding the moss, thus formed, onto said frame as it is forced through said outlet opening and onto the frame by said member, and. separate driving mechanisms for said compacting means and said binding mechanism. V

11. A machine for applying moss or the like to Wreath frames, comprising a support forthe frame, means for compacting the moss and placing the same on said frame, and mechanism automatically oper-- able adjacent said means for binding said moss to said frame as it is placed thereon by said means, said compacting means ineluding a hopper and a lunger acting therein, and said binding mechanism comprising an annular thread carrier adapted to encircle and rotate around a section of the frame.

12. A machine for applying moss or the like to Wreath frames, comprising a support for the frame, means for compacting the moss and placing the same on said frame, and mechanism automatically operable adjacent said means for binding said mess to said frame'as it is placed thereon by said means, said compacting means including a hopper and a plunger acting therein, and said binding mechanismcomprising an annular thread carrier, having an axis at an angle to the plane of the frame, the latter being also of annular formation and the annuli operating each Within the other.

13. A machine for applying moss or the like to Wreath frames comprising a hopper adapted to receive the moss and having a 7 reduced outlet passage, compacting means adapted to act upon the moss in said hopper and to eject it in a formed body through said passage, meansfor supporting a Wreath frame in position to receive said formed body of moss from said passage, and means offering resistance to the outcoming moss body to thereby cooperate with said compacting means in increasing the compactness of said body.

14. A machine for applying moss or the like to Wreath frames comprising a hopper adapted to receive the moss and havinga reduced outlet passage, compacting means adapted to act upon the moss in said hopper and to eject it in a formed body through said passage, means for supporting a Wreath frame in position to receive said formed body of moss from said passage, and means offering resistance to the outcoming moss body to thereby cooperate with said compacting means in increasing the compactness of said body, said means serving also to guide said Wreath frame and permit movement thereof as the moss is progressively applied thereto. I

15. A machine for applying moss or the like to Wreath frames comprising a hopper adapted to receive the mossand having a reduced outlet passage, compacting means adapted to act upon the moss in said hopper and to eject it in a formed body through said passage, means for supporting a Wreath frame in position to receive said formed body of moss from said passage, and adj ustable means offering resistance to the outcoming moss body to thereby cooperate with said compacting means in increasing the compactness of said body.

16. A'machine for applying moss or the like to Wreath frames comprising a sup port for the frame, a hopper adjacent said support having an outlet opening therein,

and a reciprocating member operating in said hopper, said member having an inclined, serrated face and being :adapted to arrange the moss in overlapping, compacted formation and to deposit the same upon said frame.

17. A machine for applying moss or the like to Wreath frames comprising a support for the frame, a hopper adjacent said support having an outlet opening therein, a reciprocating member operating in said hopper, said member being adapted to compact and form the moss and place the same upon said frame, and means for guiding said frame so that the moss may be applied to successively presented portions thereof.

18. A machine for applying moss or the like to Wreath frames comprising a support for theframe, hopper adjacent said support having an outlet opening therein, a

reciprocating member operating in said hopper, said member being adapted to comltlt) pact and form the moss and place the same upon said frame, and means for guiding said frame so that the moss may be applied to successively presented portions thereof, said guiding means being adjustable.

19. A. machine for applying moss or the like to wreath frames comprising a support for the frame, a hopper adjacent said support having an outlet opening therein, a

reciprocating member operating in said hopper, said member being adapted to c01npact and form the moss and place the same upon said frame, and means for guiding said frame so that the moss may be applied to successively presented portions thereof, said guiding means being adjustable and including rollers movable into and out of engagement With said frame.

HANS PETER HANSON. 

